On Valentine’s Days past, we would go to the cinema to watch movies with our loved ones. Even though we are in covid times, no worries – we can create our own home theaters. What’s better than watching romance films from the comfort of your sofa on a Saturday night? Here are some iconic romance movie recommendations – featuring some great food.
#1. Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Always Be My Maybe is a rom-com film that you can’t miss if you are a big fan of Asian cuisine. Starring Ali Wong and Randall Park, this is a funny, witty, and genuine film about relationships, family, and careers. Ali Wong plays the role of Sasha, a celebrity chef, which means that several important scenes revolve around food and dining culture. From Kimchi Jigae to the dim sum Marcus brings Sasha to eat on their date, the scene-stealer food in this movie will definitely make you crave some hearty home-made dishes. And IRL, Ali Wong herself is quite the foodie – check out the amazing food pics on her Instagram.
#2. Off Course/Perdiendo el norte (2015)
If you’ve seen Cable Girls, the Spanish period drama web television series, you’ll definitely recognize this on-screen couple. Off Course is a comedy film about youths who go to Berlin in search of better employment opportunities, but find themselves trapped in cultural barriers and complicated relationships. In the film, the main characters Hugo and Braulio make mouth-watering kebabs in a restaurant owned by fellow Spaniards in Berlin. There are multiple scenes where you can not resist laughing at their clumsiness in the kitchen.
#3. To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)
Let’s be honest here – who stress bakes? I absolutely do, and TATB’s Lara Jean does too. The third film in this franchise was released earlier this week, but I prefer the second movie, since there were more scenes of Lara Jean baking! She whips up some insane cherry turnovers on Valentine’s Day, as well as some decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes. Lara Jean is basically a walking dessert recipe book. These scene-stealing desserts totally made me sneak into the kitchen to grab some ice cream.
#4. Us and Them (2018)
“We have everything in the end. Just not each other.” If you want a moving, tragic, realistic love story, Us and Them is a go-to film for you to cry over. As the plot begins with Chinese New Year, reunion dinner and delicious Chinese desserts are everywhere. The noodles Jianqing can not stop slurping before the reunion dinner symbolize the never-ending yearning for one’s hometown. The steamed bun stuffed with red bean paste which Jianqing longs for but his father does not make that year is a representative dessert in northern part of China. Aside from these delicious dishes, the black-and-white scenes contribute to a beautiful sentimentality in this film.
All these films are available on Netflix, and there are more romance movies to explore even though Valentine’s Day is over. But the most important thing when you watch these movies? Remember to have some snacks within your reach!